Paint the town red on short breaks to Glasgow and enjoy lunches in Art Deco cafés and live gigs in 'spit and sawdust' pubs.
Red-paved George Square with its grand, Victorian City Chambers pinpoints Glasgow's centre on the north bank of the glistening River Clyde. From here it's an easy amble through the grid of streets to the parades of bars and shops on bustling High Street and Sauciehall Street. This all blends east into super-swanky Merchant City with its posh gastropub terraces and dinky boutiques. In the chilled-out West End the rolling Kelvingrove Park is a green hangout for open-air gigs and picnics.
Best of Glasgow city breaks for...
- Families: You can travel back to the future with the kids at the wacky Glasgow Science Centre. Go on a 3D space safari in the Planetarium and meet the CBeebies science characters Nina and the Neurons on a voyage of discovery.
- Romance: The armadillo-shaped Clyde Auditorium glows on the banks of the River Clyde at night. Bring your date here for a smoochy evening in front of uplifting musicals like Mamma Mia! or a crooning pop act.
- Free & cheap: Explore the galleries in the fairy-tale, Baroque Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on Glasgow city breaks. The bright, glass-roofed West Court fascinates visitors with its shiny, dangling Spitfire plane and a giant preserved elephant called Sir Roger.
- Shopping: There's everything under one roof at the glitzy Buchanan Galleries shopping centre, from sparkling Swarovski to trendy Lipsy fashions. Complete your Glasgow makeover with manicures in Express Nails and bargain fragrances from the perfumeries.
- Active types: Lace up your walking shoes for a Highland fling in the woodland and gardens of Pollok Country Park. You can meet pedigree woolly cattle and pat burly Clydesdale horses on your trek around the stately grounds.
Getting into Glasgow from Glasgow Airport
- Hop in a taxi or local bus at the terminal to make the one-mile trip to Paisley Gilmour Street station. It's then just 11 minutes by fast train to Glasgow Central.
Getting around on weekend breaks in Glasgow
- Subway The circular Glasgow Subway rattles below the city on both sides of the River Clyde.
- Bus Wave down a First bus service to zip around central Glasgow and the suburbs.
